Bandura (conclusion, Evaluation)

Question 1

Name 3 strengths of the study

Answer 1

1. High in reliability
2. High in validity
3. Collection of both quantitative and qualitative data

Question 2

Name 3 weaknesses of the study

Answer 2

1. Generalisability
2. Ecological validity
3. Short term observation

Question 3

Strength: reliability

Answer 3

1. Inter-rater reliability was ensured during data collection and the beginning (0,89) and end of the procedure. (0.9)
2. Standardisation. The order of the toys and fight sequence.

Question 4

Strength: High in validity

Answer 4

High in internal validity as many extraneous variables were controlled. 2. Effect individual differences were reduced by the pretesting.
3. Reduction of demand characteristics by using a 1 way mirror.
4. A single bind technique was used with the male scorer to reduce bias.

Question 5

Strength: Collection if both quantitative and qualitative data

Answer 5

Provides a holistic picture of behaviour
1. Quantitative: results can be compared, averages produced etc
2. Qualitative: explains why some children imitate some behaviours and not others

Question 6

Weakness: Low representativeness/ thus low generalisability

Answer 6

1. 6 children in each condition (small)
2. Children were similar all from same nursery, parents were academically able
   Produces bias, lowers population validity

Question 7

Weakness: Ecological validity

Answer 7

1. Artificial lab setting with experimenters. May influence the children behaviour that may not have occurred in natural environment.
2. The attack was choreographed (unusual) real life situations aggression is sporadic. (Mundane realism)

Question 8

Weakness: short term observation

Answer 8

The study only observed the children’s behaviour immediately after the exposure to the model. This short term approach doesn’t provide info about long term effects of observing aggressive behaviours. Unclear whether imitated aggression would persist, diminish or evolve.

Question 9

Nature

Answer 9

The influence of gender on the children’s level of aggression could be due to hormonal influences and brain development.

Question 10

Nurture-

Answer 10

Influence of the model on aggressive behaviour proves that this is a learnt behaviour. Influence of social stereotypes about fem/masc behaviour with aggressionbeing more acceptable for males.

Question 11

Situational

Answer 11

The situational influence of models had led children to imitate aggressive behaviour.

Question 12

Individual factors

Answer 12

Could explain the differences in the levels of imitation despite being exposed to the same situation as children are rewarded differently for sex typed behaviour.

Question 13

Ethical issues (consent)

Answer 13

1. Headteacher was aware of the study. Other than that no evidence of informed consent.

Question 14

Ethical issues (right to withdraw)

Answer 14

Children weren’t given the opportunity to consent or withdraw consent (v important when working with kids)

Question 15

Ethical issues (Protection from harm)

Answer 15

The children witnessed aggressive behaviour, could lead to some children to become aggressive, and display aggressive disposition across their lives

Children could have physically injured themselves after observing aggression

Question 16

Practical issues

Answer 16

1. Useful because children have been exposed to less violence than adults (extraneous variable)
2. Fewer extraneous that could affect natural aggression levels (bad day at work)
3. More naive less likely to develop demand characteristics